What is the treatment for Morton's neuroma?

Non-operative Treatment

Most patients' symptoms subside when they change footwear to a wide soft shoe with a metatarsal support inside to relieve the pressure on the involved area. If this treatment fails, a cortisone injection into the nerve is occasionally helpful.

Operative Treatment

When conservative measures are unsuccessful, surgery can be a good choice in the treatment of Morton's neuroma.
The operation for Morton's neuroma does not require an overnight hospital stay. The anesthetic used is an ankle block, which completely numbs the foot during the surgery.

The physician removes the neuroma from an incision made on the top of the foot between the involved metatarsal heads.
The nerve to the interspace is exposed and cut next to the metatarsal heads.

What types of complications may occur?

The main complication resulting from a neuroma excision (removal) is a recurrence of the neuroma. The nerve itself doesn't return, but whenever a portion of a nerve is removed, the stump will form a little bulb known as a traumatic or stump neuroma. If this traumatic neuroma is located beneath a metatarsal head or becomes quite large, it may become painful several years after the initial surgery. Most studies have shown that although 80% of patients do well after the removal of a neuroma, 20% will have some degree of nerve pain following the surgery.
Occasionally after surgery, the patient will have an area of numbness on the bottom of the foot which is described as feeling like a wrinkle in the sock. This discomfort usually disappears in time.